Knee deep, at this point.

I know hes not a vet.

"...And you holding his hand..."

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i sat there for what felt like ages. the group decided to leave me alone, to rest. i figured out their names, luckily.

ashlyn, tyler, and taylor went off to some sort of gas station to put gas in the van.

i was left with ben, aiden, and logan. im glad ben was here to keep aiden under control.

im alone with my dog. its dark, and..

what the fuck was that?

i saw something. i know i did. out of the corner of my eye.

im definitely seeing something. the door opened, shutting quietly. i was too scared to speak up. i just covered my mouth again.

kassie stood guard around me. her nose twitching. im sure she could smell something.

i tried to stand, it was agonizing, more painful than the first time i tried. but i stood, nonetheless. i saw something. two beady white eyes, watching me from the shadows. ready.

i sped toward the backpack on the floor against the wall. there were knives in there. kassie barked and lunged at the creature that was stalking me, buying me some time.

i flicked open some sort of blade. anything. i couldn't tell what it was, my vision was blurred.

but then i heard a yelp- a *shreik* from my dog.

suddenly, it wasnt about defending myself anymore.

it was *white hot* ***rage***.

kassie, poor soul, skidded to me as fast as she possibly could.

and when the demon lunged, it was knocked out of the air by a bullet it took right in the head.

i was in pain before i was surprised. the noise shot through my ears, a painful ring filled my hearing. it hurt.

"valentine!?"

normally, i wasnt sensitive to noise, but i guess the part where i was thrown to the ground at my school in this hell dimension might have given me some sort of concussion.

my whole body hurt, but i was standing well enough. i used my hand to hold me up against the wall.

"*shit...* just.. help my dog first... she..."

i saw her blood, in a small splatter on the ground. it was dripped over to her position.

i looked at ben, who was immediately trying to help fix the problem. he isnt a doctor, much less a vet. he and i *both* know that.

but he was the very best we were gonna get.

my knees buckled under my weight, but i was caught by aiden, being set down slowly.

too much was happening at once. logan was sobbing into a radio on his chest, aiden was asking why i didnt ask for help, and ben was.. from the looks of it, injecting something into my dog.

she wasnt dying today. it was only a small wound from the looks of it, but a wound nonetheless.

and i couldnt help but feel like it was all my fault. my head hurt. and i didnt feel okay. the tears in my eyes were actually falling now, and i wanted to tell aiden why i didnt call out. why i was scared. why i didnt want to be a pain. why i wanted to prove i could help. why i thought i was strong.

but i wasnt strong.

i couldnt say anything. the words didnt come out. i couldnt think straight, and i wanted to die right there and then.

i felt like a caged dog. too scared to yell for help, worried that maybe, somehow, the cage would hold me in tighter if i did. i would gnaw at the bars alone, until my gums bled.

and i knew that made me a pain in the ass, just causing problems because of it. why werent these people calling me out? they know im a pain. they arent saying it.. why? someone tell them to stop being so empathetic, its horrible. im horrible. i feel horrible.

but still, they had sympathy for me. asking me if i were okay. i didnt want to owe them any more than i did.

i didnt get it. i caused them so much trouble, and they still cared so much. i didnt deserve it.

ive been so silent. i havent said a word since it happened. i just want to go home. i never want to see these people again. im such an asshole, and running from this seems much more appealing than failing in front of them again.

but i know i will pay them back. they are deserving. for their kindness.

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